Lexical Definition

‎μυστήριον‎ mystḗrion (moos-tay'-ree-on) mystery ^G:N-N
from a derivative of (to shut the mouth)

mystery.

• a secret or "mystery" (through the idea of silence imposed by initiation into religious rites)

Abbott-Smith

μυστήριον, -ου, τό (< μυέω), [in LXX: Da LXX TH 2:18 ff. (רָז), To 12:7, 11, Jth 2:2, Wi 2:22 6:22 14:15, 23, Si 3:18 22:22 27:16, 17, 21, II Mac 13:21*;]
1. that which is known to the μύστης (initiated), a mystery or secret doctrine, mostly in pl., τὰ μ. (Æsch., Hdt., al.).
2. In later writers (Menand., Incert., 168), that which may not be revealed (not, however, as in the modern sense, intrinsically difficult to understand), a secret or mystery of any kind (To 12:7, 11, Jth 2:2, II Mac 13:21).
3. In NT, of the counsels of God (cf. Th.: Jb 15:8, Ps 24 (25):14 for סוֹד), once hidden but now revealed in the Gospel or some fact thereof;
(a) of the Christian revelation generally: Ro 16:25, I Co 2:7, Col 1:26, 27, Eph 3:3, 9; τ. βασιλείας τ. θεοῦ, Mk 4:11; τ. θεοῦ, I Co 2:1, Re 10:7; τ. θ., Χριστοῦ, Col 2:2; τ. Χριστοῦ, Col 4:3, Eph 3:4; τ. θελήματος αὐτοῦ, Eph 1:9; τ. εὐαγγελίου, Eph 6:19; τ. πίστεως, I Ti 3:9; τ. εὐσεβείας, I Ti 3:16;
(b) of particular truths, or details, of the Christian revelation: Ro 11:25, I Co 15:51, Eph 5:32, II Th 2:7, Re 1:20 17:5, 7; pl., τὰ μ., I Co 13:2 14:2; θεοῦ, I Co 4:1; τ. βασιλείας τ. οὐρανῶν (θεοῦ), Mt 13:11, Lk 8:10 (cf. Westc., Eph., 180 ff.; AR, Eph., 234 ff.; Lft., Col., 165 f.; Hatch, Essays, 57 f.; DB, iii, 465 ff.; DCG, ii, 213 ff.).†

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

μυστήριον-ον, τό,

(μύστης, μυέω) mystery or secret rite: mostly in plural, τὰ μ. the mysteries, first in [Refs 5th c.BC+] (of the mysteries of the Cabiri in Samothrace), etc.; especially those of Demeter at Eleusis, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; μυστηρίοις τοῖς μείζοσιν, τοῖς ὀλείζοσιν μ., [Refs]; but usually, τὰ μεγάλα, τὰ μικρὰ μ., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀπιέναι πρὸ τῶν μ., i.e. before you have reached the heart of the matter, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὰ τῆς θεοῦ (i.e. Μεγάλης Μητρὸς) μ. [Refs 1st c.AD+]; οἱ θεοὶ οἷς τὰ μ. ἐπιτελεῖται [Refs 1st c.BC+]; τὰ μ. ποιεῖν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; μ. ἐρεῖν And.[same place]: later in singular, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]

__2 mystic implements and ornaments, σεμνὰ στεμμάτων μυστήριονα [Refs 5th c.BC+]; especially properties, such as were carried to Eleusis at the celebration of the mysteries, ὄνος ἄγω μυστήριονα, proverbial of an over-loaded beast, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__2.b later, object used in magical rites, talisman, δότε πνεῦμα τῷ ὑπ᾽ ἐμοῦ κατεσκευασμένῳ μ. [Refs 3rd c.AD+]
__3 metaphorically, ὕπνος, τὰ μικρὰ τοῦ θανάτου μ. [Refs 4th c.BC+]; τῆς Ῥωμαίων ἀρχῆς σεμνὸν μ., of the military sacramentum, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]: generally, mystery, secret, [μυστήριονόν σου μὴ κατείπῃς τῷ φίλῳ 4th-3rd c.BC: Menander Comicus 695, cf. LXX.Sir.27.16, LXX.Tob.12.7 ">LXX+5th c.BC+]; προσήγγειλε τὰ μ. τοῖς πολεμίοις[μυστήριονα βίου 2nd c.AD: Soranus Medicus 1.3 ">LXX+2nd c.AD+]; τοὐμὸν τὸ μ. [the remedy] is my secret, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]: hence, of a medicine, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__4 secret revealed by God, i.e. religious or mystical truth, Corp. Herm.[Refs], etc.; τὰ μ. τῆς βασιλείας τῶν οὐρανῶν [μυστήριονα NT.1Cor.14.2 ">NT]; τὸ μ. τῆς ἀνομίας the mystery of iniquity, [NT+1st c.AD+]; especially of the Gospel or parts of it, τὸ μ. τοῦ εὐαγγελίου [NT]; symbol, τὸ μ. τῶν ἑπτὰ ἀστέρων [NT]
__5 σύνηθές τι μ. some vulgar superstition, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__II Dionysius the tyrant called mouse-holes μυστήριονα (μῦς, τηρεῖν), [Refs 2nd c.AD+]

_{LSJ Scripture Refs: Matt.13.11 ☩ 1Cor.14.2 ☩ 2Thess.2.7 ☩ Eph.6.19 ☩ Col.1.26 ☩ Rev.1.20}